Scams like these

[love_the_life]

I had one from the ATO telling me about a refund. Coming from a bunch of letters and numbers atcis.com seemed unlikely. plus the usual ones about me winning a new phone and various other prizes.

The MyGov ones drive me spare - I did try to report an ATO one but their inbox was full

 

[p--and--t]

Suddenly started getting the canned/prerecorded Amazon prime scam messages again today. Not had one of those for at least 2yrs

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Many, many, many calls, which I dont dare answer, from 026147****, ie 6016.
Blocked, and deleted, but my smartphone still plings when this person or group rings me, but at the least the phone itself does not ring a ring tone when they call.
Shows Canberra, probably the fake AFP or ATO is after me.

 

[OATEK]

Suddenly started getting the canned/prerecorded Amazon prime scam messages again today. Not had one of those for at least 2yrs

Mine was PayPal.

 

[Forg]

I got a call with a real scammer at the other end on Tuesday, he claimed to be from Ebay investigating unusual usage of my account.
I was sitting in traffic at a REALLY slow intersection, 30 cars from the lights & only about 5 cars were going through each cycle ... I'd already answered (I'm expecting a call from insurance company via an unknown number so have to answer them - bugger!) so didn't hang up on him 'til I got bored of it.

He wasn't as surprised as I thought he'd be when I told him that I had made a purchase for ... I dunno, $695.21 in Los Angeles California. In fact I'm not sure his script allowed for me to say that, as he kept pressing on, "since you did not make that purchase we recommend" and I said "but I did, I bought that last night" ... "oh sorry sir there seems to be a second purchase for a different amount, did you make another?" ... "yes I did, can't remember exactly how much but yes I did that one too".

If I'd paid attention to the number (in the car so just answered using the steering-wheel) I'd have said "Oh you're in Ebay's Auckland office, one of my mates works there, do you know" ... I dunno probably Bob Dobalina.

But the light went green, I got bored, and I had to end his entertainment there.


Another annoying one I've had of late is quite probably legit, it's a middle-aged lady's voice using AU or similar to try & get you to give money to some form of cancer charity. I've only been needing to answer the 'phone since Monday, and I've already had SkyNet talking to me via her voice 3 times.

 

[p--and--t]

I got a call with a real scammer at the other end on Tuesday, he claimed to be from Ebay investigating unusual usage of my account.
I was sitting in traffic at a REALLY slow intersection, 30 cars from the lights & only about 5 cars were going through each cycle ... I'd already answered (I'm expecting a call from insurance company via an unknown number so have to answer them - bugger!) so didn't hang up on him 'til I got bored of it.

He wasn't as surprised as I thought he'd be when I told him that I had made a purchase for ... I dunno, $695.21 in Los Angeles California. In fact I'm not sure his script allowed for me to say that, as he kept pressing on, "since you did not make that purchase we recommend" and I said "but I did, I bought that last night" ... "oh sorry sir there seems to be a second purchase for a different amount, did you make another?" ... "yes I did, can't remember exactly how much but yes I did that one too".

If I'd paid attention to the number (in the car so just answered using the steering-wheel) I'd have said "Oh you're in Ebay's Auckland office, one of my mates works there, do you know" ... I dunno probably Bob Dobalina.

But the light went green, I got bored, and I had to end his entertainment there.


Another annoying one I've had of late is quite probably legit, it's a middle-aged lady's voice using AU or similar to try & get you to give money to some form of cancer charity. I've only been needing to answer the 'phone since Monday, and I've already had SkyNet talking to me via her voice 3 times.

I asked one of the woman with an Indian accent calling from “your internet support centre re a virus detected on your PC” whether I could ask a question. When she agreed “just wondering if your parents know how much you are disgracing their family name with your scam calls”. The answer was “click”.

 

[drron]

Both I and Mrsdrron got 3 emails from docusign yesterday. Easy for Mrsdrron as hasn't had anything to do with docusign and the sending emai address obviously a fraud.
But for me I was expecting an email from docusign and a much more convincing email address from eu.docusign. I got my expected email this morning from au.docusign.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Lots of Wangiri now from across the pond, from the land of the long white cloud.
+64* *** ***.
Thought our Kiwi cousins are/were beyond this Wangiri(ing) their cousins acoss the pond.

 

[VPS]

Both I and Mrsdrron got 3 emails from docusign yesterday. Easy for Mrsdrron as hasn't had anything to do with docusign and the sending emai address obviously a fraud.
But for me I was expecting an email from docusign and a much more convincing email address from eu.docusign. I got my expected email this morning from au.docusign.

I got one today but I often get emails for another vps at gmail.com so I thought it might be that. I even sent these people in Long Island a postcard to say if you email me I'll let you know when I get another
a kitchen renovation quote
b Paris cooking school confirmation
c Italian accommodation
but they never responded. I know exactly how much they spent on all of those and their address in Long Island

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Got a call yesterday from ‘Commonwealth Bank’. They knew my middle name, so obviously bought the data from one of the (many) leaks over the years.

Said he was calling about a suspicious transaction to Mr John Watts in the United States for $332.50. Wanted to know if I had authorised the payment.

Given I don’t bank with the Commonwealth I quickly replied.. ‘oh my… thank you for being on top of this so quickly! Yes, I made a payment to Mr Watts this morning! I hope it’s gone through as he was waiting for it!’

‘You made a payment to John Watts? This morning? In the USA?? Are you sure???’

Agent getting frustrated

‘Yes! Glad that Commonwealth bank is on top of it though, I appre…’

Call terminated by other party

 

[p--and--t]

 

[Forg]

Got a call yesterday from ‘Commonwealth Bank’. They knew my middle name, so obviously bought the data from one of the (many) leaks over the years.

Said he was calling about a suspicious transaction to Mr John Watts in the United States for $332.50. Wanted to know if I had authorised the payment.

Given I don’t bank with the Commonwealth I quickly replied.. ‘oh my… thank you for being on top of this so quickly! Yes, I made a payment to Mr Watts this morning! I hope it’s gone through as he was waiting for it!’

‘You made a payment to John Watts? This morning? In the USA?? Are you sure???’

Agent getting frustrated

‘Yes! Glad that Commonwealth bank is on top of it though, I appre…’

Call terminated by other party

At least yours was smart enough to give up at that point, mine just kept pushing on.

 

[drron]

I normally don't answer no number calls but just after Covid I did and was told he was a detective at a london cop shop. My daughter apparently had been assaulted and had no money. A bit strange as we only have one son. Obviously needed a bit of light relief after Covid so told him I had been a copper too and by a remarkable coincidence we were staying in a place just around the corner from you.
He was a rude bug*er as he didn't even give his name before hanging up.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Auspost scam sms
Usually, its "your AP parcel is coming today" with an expected time...
Real one: Track: Auspost website or app, no alpahnumeric, enter tracking #.
Scam is https://auspo-ref then alphanumeric.top/au
It even said your package cannot be delivered, cunning.
Its the same sms from sender shortcode, as the genuine Auspost ones.
===
There must be a system in computer land to stop these scammers using the same shortcodes to spoof sender info.
Not that I know how they do it, to be able to put scams in the same senders link as genuine Auspost sms.

 

[Forg]

There must be a system in computer land to stop these scammers using the same shortcodes to spoof sender info.

There is … for that one instance.
Problem is … block that instance, they move onto the next.
It’s like blocking a ‘phone number when the scammers use a randomised system for the number their call appears to come on.

If the telephone system wasn’t based on something centuries old, it wouldn’t be possible to “appear” to come from a number it doesn’t actually come from, mind you!

 

[Happy Dude]

Don't understand the Auspost scams. If I'm expecting a parcel, the progress updates from Auspost are the tracking. No need to click on anything.

 

[Forg]

Don't understand the Auspost scams. If I'm expecting a parcel, the progress updates from Auspost are the tracking. No need to click on anything.

Well … my favourite brewery releases new beers on a Wednesday, meaning that if Straya Post is on the ball I’ll get them in time to chill for Friday night. Straya Post only sends me a message when they get notification there’s a parcel, and when the parcel is going to be delivered; I do have to go to the tracking site on a Friday morning to check whether it was transferred from the pickup depot to the delivery depot overnight … otherwise I need to wait ‘til close to midday to know whether the new beers are arriving on time!

 

[Happy Dude]

My experience with an AP delivery last week was:

1. sms & email to say it's being packed/on the way.
2. sms & email to say it's on the way and expect it on [day] {time]
3. sms & email to say it has been delivered.
4. email asking me "How'd we do?"

Wasn't in a rush to get the parcel or need to know it's whereabouts so no need to click on anything. Sounds like you don't need to either unless you're not convinced they'll meet the delivery date/time. Seems a low probability scam.